Every year millions of people sign up for a health club membership at a local health club or fitness center hoping to get into shape. In the minds of many, joining a fancy fitness club is a necessary prerequisite for firming up regardless of whether or not they actually go. Then reality sets in and not only do they realize they don't have time to drive to a gym each day but those health club fees are really adding up! Before taking the plunge and paying up front and monthly fees for membership to a fitness center you may never use, why not consider some free or almost free alternatives to a health club workout? Here are some ways to get a workout without damaging your bank account:
Get a Bicycle

Not only will using a bicycle give you a good workout, it'll also help you save money. Instead of jumping in the car every time you need to run an errand, you can get out your bicycle and hit the pavement. Did you know bicycling at a moderate pace burns around five hundred calories per hour? Plus, being in the great outdoors and enjoying the scenery as you ride beats pedaling on a stationary bicycle at the gym any day.
Head to the Track at a Local School

If you're like most people, there's probably a school nearby that has a track. Instead of jogging on the hot and crowded indoor track at the gym or running like a hamster on a stationary treadmill, head to the track at your local high school and walk or jog first thing in the morning. It can be exhilarating hitting the track on a brisk fall morning.
The Mall

Don't think that mall walking is just for older people. You can get a pretty good workout at your local mall if you approach it with enthusiasm. Go to an indoor mall that has at least two floors. Instead of walking at a steady pace, walk slowly for two minutes and then pick up the pace to where you almost have to break into a run. Sustain this more intense pace for two minutes. Alternate back and forth. When you come to a stairwell, run as fast as possible up the stairs to the second floor. Climb the stairs at a fast pace at least five times during your workout. By varying the speed and adding stairs, you'll get the equivalent of a health club interval workout without spending a penny on a gym membership.
A DVD Library

When you build a library of exercise DVD's, it's like having your own entourage of personal trainers. You can work out to a different DVD every day whenever it happens to suit your schedule. If you don't want to spend a fortune on DVD's, check them out of the library or buy them at garage sales and thrift stores.

As you can see, you can get a great workout without setting foot into a health club then you can use that extra money to take a beach vacation to show off your new, toned physique!